SAVVY travellers are collecting air miles to redeem great travel perks. Speedy boarding, seat upgrades and even free flights are some of the amazing rewards.

However, with lots of different schemes out there which are constantly changing, knowing how to make the most out of your air miles can be confusing.

Follow these simple tricks from travel experts to make sure you’re getting the best value for those hard-earned points.

Start accumulating them

The first rule for air miles, which lots of passengers miss, is to collect them in the first place. Many travellers don’t collect them because they believe their points will never add up to their dream of better seats or a free flight.

Even if your miles don’t amount to this, they can still be exchanged for rewards such as speedy boarding and discounted fares.

Travel specialist Gary Leff advises signing up to every rewards program, even if you only intend to fly with an airline once. Don’t miss out on premium perks by simply not collecting your air miles.

Your credit card might earn you air miles

Now it’s not only airlines which offer air miles as part of reward schemes. Travel blogger LifeHacker says: “flying and using credit cards aren’t the only ways to get airline miles. In fact, you can gain miles by shopping, eating out and more”.

Credit card companies are also getting in on the action, with over 40 UK credit cards allowing you to spend and earn air miles.

Cheap flights: When is the best time to book flights to get a good deal?

Many airlines offer promotions when bookings are slow to use less miles to book your flight. So if you can be flexible you may get to go somewhere for half the normal value.

Bob Atkinson

Don’t let your air miles sit in your account for too long

The second simple trick is to not let those air miles sit in your account for too long.

Over time, the airline will devalue them or your points may expire after a certain time.

If you’re clocking up the air miles with an end goal in mind (be that an upgrade or free flight) keep referring to your airline’s frequent flyers program so that if their rules do change, you have time to act and redeem miles.

Always price compare before you use your air miles

Travel expert Bob Atkinson at Travel Supermarket believes it pays to research whether using your collected air miles is always the cheapest option, as sometimes you can get a better deal paying with cash.

He said: “Many airlines offer promotions when bookings are slow to use less miles to book your flight. So if you can be flexible you may get to go somewhere for half the normal value.”

When redeeming your points, check the real price of your booking to make sure your getting the best value for money.

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Moving to business class is a good air miles investment

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Booking a last minute flight can be better with air miles

Get the whole family contributing

With reward schemes like British Airways’ Executive Club you can open a household account.

That means up to six people living together can pool their air miles, which may allow you to reach higher tier rewards quicker.

Join partner award schemes

More airlines are partnering with each other, providing passengers with the chance to spread their points amongst different carriers. This is great for regular flyers who don’t want to commit to only one frequent flyers programme.

For example, oneworld’s frequent flyers programme means you can earn and redeem your points across fifteen major airlines including British Airways, American Airline, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.

SkyTeam’s alliance of 20 airlines, includes heavyweights Delta and KLM, and allows members to seamlessly accrue and spend air miles.